Author: Alallein Gaidin
Subject: The Stains of War
Date: Tue Apr 28 10:28:46 1998

Message:

The sudden murmers of the women in the room made her open one eye to see who had entered.....
***********

The murmurs about the room did not even reach the Saldean's ears, his head held high, but his eyes deep in sorrow.

He stood in the great oaken doorway wearing nothing but a loincloth, Toreene had seen the man before, but never so much of him. His smooth, young skin was tanned a deep golden brown from the many hard days spent in the yards and it wrapped over a beautifully muscled body. His shoulders were broad and his chest thick, his arms defined by his swordwork, but his legs...the muscles spoke of strengths and agilities that none but a veteran horseman could possess. For once, his shoulder length tresses were not tied back, but now hung loosely about his bloodied face, waving with a slight natural curl.

The blood of battle still stained his body, his hands, and face. The thick scar across his chest remained from a battle fought not in the Blight, but in the Yards of the White Tower. Toreene had saved his life that day by healing that fatal wound. A new pink scar now graced his left shoulder, wrapping nearly from chest to back, again a fatal blow suffered from a Halfman's black blade, and again healed by the Aes Sedai before the darkness took him away from her. Those were not his only scars, many more crossed his limbs and torso, earned from many years of battle, but none were as deep as the one that crossed his soul that night, the lives lost by his leave. The three hundred horse that fell at the Waygate weighed heavily on his brow. It was being hailed as a great victory within the walls of Fal Dara, but to Alallein it was not so.

The old warriors that sat in the warm water quickly read Alallein's face, recognizing the distinct expression of a General mourning the loss of his troops. As he approached the steaming water the men greeting him as a brother with the spoken words, "Well fought this day, Swordsworn. Honor to the Silver Fishes." The Silver Fishes, the sigil of Saldea, he wore during the charge. Alallein replied with, "Honor to the Black Hawk, it was Fal Dara who won a victory this day." Their approving smiles greeting him, the younger man accepted by the elders, all veterans of great experience.

One such veteran spoke up, "Your brow sags, Swordsworn. Do you then mourn for those men who now find peace and happiness in the Mother's embrace?" The other men became silent and their expressions serious, there was no more joking here. Even the ladies turned their attention to this cluster of warriors, if it had ever left them. He answered the question with, "Yes, my Lord. I mourn death, would I find peace eternal, then I would mourn no more." His expression was that icy stare so common of him, his deep blue eyes only added to the affect.

The reply came from the graying man, "Know this then, all great Generals must mourn death, but the difference between the great and the not so, is that the great know to put it behind them and do what must be done!" This comment was met with nods and agreements from the other men and another spoke up, "Death is light as a feather, duty heavier than a mountain, Swordsworn. You will live up to your duty, I see that in you." More agreements followed.

The first spoke up again, "Enough of this talk! Clean those stains from yourself, young General! You look a mess!" and he threw the cake of soap at Alallein with a laugh.

He scrubbed those stains of red from his face and body, washing hard and deep to rid himself of not just the grime but the guilt that went with it. For some reason, this short talk eased his pain much. As he scrubbed, his gaze crossed the room. Many of the ladies were still eyeing him, trying to catch a glimpse of his well shaped body and handsome face. His eyes met Toreene's, obviously she was enjoyed looking on him as well. He spoke, offering her the soap, "If you would, Toreene? I cannot reach my back so well, considering my injuring." The murmurs ran anew throughout the bathhouse as she considered his request.

OOC: Toreene, Sorry it took so long and now we are travelling again, but I wanted to make this post anyhow, so go ahead and reply!

• Presumptions by Toreene Sedai, Asst. MoN , Tue Apr 28 16:27
• Re: Presumptions by Alallein , Wed Apr 29 10:51
• Cheeky....:-) by Toreene Sedai, Asst.MoN , Wed May 6 18:24